Since launching his career as a 16-year-old with the independently released The Rocket Summer EP, a name he took from a Ray Bradbury short story, Bryce has toured around the world, selling out venues not just in the US, but Canada, the UK, Australia, and Japan, while playing such noted events as UK’s Glastonbury Festival, Scotland’s T in the Park, Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival, Australia’s Soundwave Festival, Austin City Limits, SXSW, Bamboozle, Cornerstone and the 2007 and 2010 Vans Warped Tour. “I try to write songs the whole world would want to sing along to but I also want to make an album of genuine and honest songs written from my heart that musically and lyrically are better than anything I have done before and above all will be an album that would hopefully move and affect people. For me it's all about focusing everything you have on making the greatest music you can without banking on anything else. I'm grateful to be doing this and I want to do this for the right reasons."
For someone as spiritually motivated as Avary, that means he focuses on the struggles and victories of life’s often-challenging journey in his most recent release on Island Def Jam Records titled Of Men and Angels as well as on the current album he is recording. Of Men and Angels was release in February 2010, and debuted as the No.1 Album on iTunes surpassing The Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D., which had previously held the No.1 spot for Top Album. The album debuted #38 on the Billboard 200 and # 4 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums charts. This is just one instance of how Avary’s loyal hardcore fan base has supported The Rocket Summer throughout the years. This also explains the kind of viral following that turned the video for “Do You Feel” into an Internet phenomenon. With guest appearances by Paramore, Relient K, All Time Low, Jack’s Mannequin, Forever the Sickest Kids, MxPx, Hellogoodbye, the music video led to the album version of the song being played more than 4 million times on The Rocket Summer’s My Space site. The album Do You Feel hit #44 on the Billboard 200 and #16 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums charts and has sold over 100,000 copies in the US alone. “We’re definitely aware of the kind of connection we have with our fans and I’m just fortunate to be a part of it.”
His albums and live shows are all about positivity, optimism, sing-a-longs, excitement, and overcoming our struggles. The Rocket Summer has toured with The Goo Goo Dolls, OneRepublic, Paramore, Relient K, The All-American Rejects, Copeland, All Time Low, The Ataris, Something Corporate, Plain White T’s, Hellogoodbye, Phantom Planet & many others.
“I like the term ‘young veteran,’” says Avary. “We have this loyal, hardcore following and I couldn't be more grateful for this. I keep pushing myself forward, trying to make great records, trying to put on the best live performance I can, all the while expanding The Rocket Summer to as far as it can be taken.”
Official website: http://www.therocketsummer.com/
Taken Aback
The Rocket Summer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since you and I shared fears
2:30 am, talkin' 'till sleep inside that diner
And now in your eyes I can't find you
Sorry, that I'm taken aback
But how I am you never ask
And I don't need such sympathy
Nice to have once in a while
You mean more to me than I could ever tell
So sorry that I'm taken aback
But I just can't help it
Small tale be just right, holdin' onto what we have inside
But now it's never there so should I admit
Do I believe that your [Incomprehensible] the culprit
'Coz now in your eyes I can't find you
Sorry, that I'm taken aback
But how I am you never ask
And I don't need such sympathy
But a care would be so woah, woah
Nice to have once in a while
You mean more to me than I could ever tell
So sorry that I'm taken aback
But I just can't help it
Someday this will go away
And everythin' I am will just be and stay
And I hope then you will understand
It's not everythin' I am my dear don't regret
So sorry that I'm taken aback
But how I am you never ask
And I don't need such sympathy
But a care would be so woah, woah
Nice to have once in a while
You mean more to me than I could ever tell
So sorry that I'm taken aback
But I just can't help it
The Rocket Summer's "Taken Aback" is a song about unrequited love, a love that is not reciprocated, and the emotions that come with it. The lyrics suggest that the singer had a close relationship with the person they love, but that relationship has changed, possibly due to a lack of communication or lack of interest by the other person. The references to the past, such as talking until sleep inside the diner, suggest a deep connection that is no longer present. The singer feels lost and disconnected from the person they love, as they cannot see the same feelings reflected in their eyes. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels unappreciated as they are never asked about how they feel, and they are not seeking sympathy, just a little care.
The song tells the story of someone who loves another person who likely does not reciprocate their feelings. The lyric "Sorry, that I'm taken aback, but how I am you never ask" indicates that the singer feels unappreciated and unseen. They desire someone who would take the time to show how much they care. The chorus "Sorry that I'm taken aback, but I just can't help it," is the singer’s way of acknowledging that they know they are being dramatic and that they are aware that they need to move on, but they are struggling.
Overall, the song expresses the feelings of someone who loves deeply and desires the love and care of the person they love. The indescribable connection that exists between the two people is highlighted throughout the song, but it is overshadowed by a lack of communication and unreciprocated feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been two whole years
It has been two years since we shared fears and had a strong connection.
Since you and I shared fears
We used to share our fears with each other and have a close relationship.
2:30 am, talkin' 'till sleep inside that diner
We used to talk until we fell asleep in a diner late at night.
And now in your eyes I can't find you
I can't recognize or connect with you anymore, and it feels like we are no longer close.
Sorry, that I'm taken aback
I am surprised and caught off guard by the change in our relationship.
But how I am you never ask
You never check in on how I'm feeling or ask how I'm doing, which hurts me.
And I don't need such sympathy
I don't want your pity or false emotions, I just want genuine concern.
But a care would be so woah, woah
I would appreciate if you would care about me and our relationship.
Nice to have once in a while
It would be nice if we could have our close connection and friendship back.
You mean more to me than I could ever tell
You are very important to me and I can't express the full extent of my feelings for you.
Small tale be just right, holdin' onto what we have inside
If we can stick together and hold onto our connection, even in small ways, it could be enough.
But now it's never there so should I admit
Our relationship doesn't seem to exist anymore, so I question whether I should even bring it up.
Do I believe that your [Incomprehensible] the culprit
I wonder if something specific caused the change in our relationship, and if you are responsible for it.
Someday this will go away
Someday, these feelings of hurt and confusion will fade.
And everythin' I am will just be and stay
I will always be who I am, regardless of how others perceive me or our relationship.
And I hope then you will understand
I hope that in the future, you will understand the impact that our relationship had on me and why I'm hurting.
It's not everythin' I am my dear don't regret
I want you to know that our relationship is not what defines me, and I don't want you to regret our past connection.
But I just can't help it
Even though it's painful, I can't help but feel hurt and confused by the change in our relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRYCE AVARY, STEPHEN BRYCE AVARY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind